People and Projects:

Job Skills in Mongolia

In the Khentii province of Mongolia unemployment is rife, but thanks to funding from the Mongol Rally the problem is being addressed in the community of Batnorov.

Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps

In the Khentii province of Mongolia unemployment is rife, but thanks to funding from the Mongol Rally the problem is being addressed in the community of Batnorov.

The project has successfully provided business training for twenty unemployed people in Batnorov and through a local Government partnership has provided work space for a further five people who work in tailoring, shoe making and electronic goods repair.

Those benefiting have included:

Enkhsaikhan, local businesswoman:

Before joining this project, I used to plant vegetables in my garden simply to feed my own family. I particpated in two different types of training and because of the skills I have learnt my life is now completely changed.

The training taught me proper methods of planting, sowing and preserving vegetables. I also participated in a business training course which has improved my managment skills and has increased my income to support my family.

With my new managment skills I joined a group of local vegetable garderners and wrote a project proposal for them which was sent to our local Government. The result of this was that our project was endorsed and MNT 2 million (£870) was given to our group. The money has enabled us to plant crops in one hectare of land and this autumn we harvested four tonnes of vegetables, which I could not have dreamed of achieveing before I took part in the training.

Now I am happy because I can relax, knowing that my children will have enough food to eat throughout the harsh winter.